Pick a word to describe this winter: bad, terrible, gross, relentless, or yuck, Any of them would be fair. We experienced the worst winter flying weather we have seen in years, oftentimes making VFR or even IFR flying an impossibility. Through it all, many of our students have kept up with their training through the use of our Red Bird Flight Simulator.
Our Redbird LD Flight Simulator is an extraordinary learning tool for pilots. Imagine having the ability to pause a lesson mid-flight and discuss how a traffic pattern could be flown a little better, why an instrument holding pattern should be entered a certain way, or even how a lazy eight could be smoothed out? All of that is possible with the Redbird. The quality of the time spent in the sim, and the level of learning that may be achieved makes it an indispensable tool.
Pick a word to describe this winter: bad, terrible, gross, relentless, or yuck, Any of them would be fair. We experienced the worst winter flying weather we have seen in years, oftentimes making VFR or even IFR flying an impossibility. Through it all, many of our students have kept up with their training through the use of our Red Bird Flight Simulator.
Our Redbird LD Flight Simulator is an extraordinary learning tool for pilots. Imagine having the ability to pause a lesson mid-flight and discuss how a traffic pattern could be flown a little better, why an instrument holding pattern should be entered a certain way, or even how a lazy eight could be smoothed out?

All of that is possible with the Redbird. The quality of the time spent in the sim, and the level of learning that may be achieved makes it an indispensable tool.

Priced significantly lower than the airplanes, the Redbird represents an opportunity to reduce the overall cost of a training program, while maximizing the efficiency of the training. Complex ideas and procedures can be worked out in in the sim, and then put into practice in the air. Students are also able to fly the Redbird solo for practice sessions to prepare for upcoming lessons (those hours are not loggable towards a certificate) One Horizon pilot reported to us:
“The past couple Redbird sessions I believe has helped me out a lot. It’s been helping me slow down and think of my procedures, using some of the available tools, and cockpit management on my own. Also lets me experiment with a pause button. For example; flap configurations with power settings in the patten etc.. On a real flight, Jon and i flew to KTAN and I was having some issues with the pattern work and was honestly getting frustrated on why I couldn’t get it. After that I came in for Redbird and flew the same flight and was having almost the same outcomes, however I was able to work it out with watching my airspeed, rudder and power settings. Each of the past 3 times I have flown Redbird its been the same route: KPVD, KTAN (with pattern work), 1B9, KPVD. Today I was soo happy that I was nailing the landings one after another. I’d be surprised if the mechanics didn’t here me yell “YES!” Might think I was a kid again lol. I know there’s more variables in real life flying and honestly I can not wait to get up with Jon on Monday morning to put it to practice and see the outcomes.”
Many of those hours flown in the sim count towards the eventual certificate a student is working towards:
Private Pilot = 3 hours
Instrument Pilot = 20 hours
Commercial Pilot = 50 hours (part 61)
Next time the weather forecast looks like it might scrub your flight talk with your CFI about scheduling time with our Redbird Flight Simulator. Don’t let Mother Nature get in the way of a perfect flying day.